Watching an elderly person drop a tear has never been any easy to grasp and accept in our African culture. But these are some of the scenes I had to endure and get used to for 12 hours when a group of journalists toured Bikita district in Masvingo east, another area that was ravaged by Cyclone Idai.
Brian Nkiwane Recently in Bikita
Eighty-seven year old Dzerendende Moyo, alongside his aging wife, 82-year old Veronica, now walking with the aid of a stick, could not hold their tears when they attempted narrating what befell them on the fateful day.
Both clad in their “home attire”, which they said they last changed a week ago, and walking bare footed, the two would stammer each time they tried to utter a word in an attempt to describe what transpired on the fateful day.
To me, it was a clear indication that something was not right somewhere, assistance was taking time to reach the affected people.
However, Dzerendende gathered courage, and started narrating the ordeal.
“Our biggest let down has been lack of information in rural areas. Had it been that we had heard about this before, we could have done something earlier,” he said while whipping tears from his wrinkling face.
He continued; “The storm, heavy rains and a strong wind came from the east, blowing at a pace and speed that at this age I have never witnessed. Look at my age,” he said looking straight into my eyes.
“This was after we had received normal rains the day before. I was sitting in the hut,” he said pointing at another hut, made with bricks, plastered using cement and it happens to be the only proper hut left at their home stead.
One of Moyo’s three huts that were destroyed by Cyclone Idai in Bikita (Brian Nkiwane/263Chat)
“After realizing that this might be the Cyclone that we had got wind about that was happening in Mutare, I decided to rush to my bedroom,” again he said pointing at his bedroom which was turned into heap of rubble by the wind.
“By the time I arrived at the door, I could not step one foot inside as the roof collapsed once and for all, and you can see for yourselves. All my belongings that I have worked for such a long time were destroyed inside. My lovely wife Veronica could not do much to help as you can see that she can’t even walk alone but with the aide of her walking stick.
“This happened a week ago, but until now, we have resorted to using this remaining hut with the entire family. I have my wife, and my two children. The boy now has his own family, but look, here we are, and there is nothing that we can do. Until such a time that we construct another hut,” he said before taking a breather.
It was evident that the family was still traumatized from the incident, having lost three huts at once.
Asked about food and other donations that the rest of the victims have been getting, Dzerendende acknowledged having been part of the people that got a few food handouts, days before but could not mince his words in as far as rehabilitation of infrastructure and households is concerned.
“I think we have waited for assistance in terms of getting proper accommodation for a long time now. Yes we got food, but torara pai, can we continue staying like this as a family, it’s actually against our cultural values. Can someone come and rescue us. We are not even sure whether this is gone for good. If this happens again, we are dead,” Dzerendende said comforting gogo Veronica who could not fathom what his husband was narrating.
Commenting on the need for infrastructural rehabilitation, acting District Administrator, who is also the chairperson of the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) Innocent Matingwina said they are not seating on their laurels watching elderly innocent souls go through hard times.
“It’s unfortunate that we cannot tell our well-wisher neither choose what we want donated for us. Yes, I know lot of attention has been to Manicaland, but people should also spare a thought for Bikita. We will do anything within our mandate to assist close to 4000 households that were affected,” Matingwina said.
Matingwina said they have since got some tents from Red Cross which they donated to other families who left homeless totally.
